Ive never been and am heading out there in about two weeks. I dont have a boat so I was wanting to know if you can actually catch bass from the bank. Also, can you catch crappie under the lights at night on the pier?

yes and yes. for bass your best bet will be live goldfish, they sell them there. i would use minnows for the crappies. people catch tons of both fishing off the peir using the above live baits.

I caught my biggest bass out there about 10-15 years ago using live goldfish right next to the hydrilla. GREAT FISHERY

I love fishing Purtis Creek! What others have said is true. Gold fish from the bank work! Last time I was out there a guy came on the pier when I was packing up my canoe and pulled out a stringer of crappie he had caught the night before. My jaw hit the deck. He had a limit and a half of 1-2 lb crappie. He fished at night under the lights on the back pier where the campers are at. Simple minnow under a float. Bass fishing is catch and release, everything else, your all right to keep.

J